Theme Park

A group of British developers has signed a licensing deal with Paramount Pictures for a planned 2-billion pound theme park outside of London. The development consortium, London Resort Co. Holdings, has signed a deal to make Paramount film properties such as "Mission: Impossible," "Star Trek" and "Paranormal Activity" part of the park, which it intends to build in North Kent in Southeast England. The agreement is exclusive in the Britain. (Paramount does not have the right to license its "Transformers" movies, as the property is owned by Hasbro.)

One thing you have to understand about the Land of Chima: The lions are the good guys. They're the ones who seek to protect the kingdom from the battle-prone crocodiles on Cartoon Network's TV series and video games. So it's not surprising that the largest piece of Legoland California's yet-to-open Chima-themed water park is a 2,116-pound Lion Temple Arch. The arch, 18 feet off the ground, was put in place last weekend at the emerging Legends of Chima Water Park that's slated to open May 24. "The Lego arch will stream water beneath the massive lion head at the entrance to the Lion Temple Wave Pool," a Lego announcement says.

An enthusiastic response to the revamp of Disneyland's California Adventure theme park was touted as one of the factors behind the Walt Disney Co.'s better-than-expected third-quarter profit. CEO Bob Iger said attendance at Disney California Adventure accounted for about half of the visits to its Anaheim parks, up from just a quarter previously . . . . Alpaca ranches have existed in the U.S. only since 1984. To broaden awareness, they are opening to the public on Sept. 29 and 30, with special activities and educational opportunities. There are 10 participating farms and ranches in California.

Universal Studios Japan's Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction will open July 15, the theme park announced Friday at an event attended by Japanese and foreign dignitaries. The $500-million Wizarding World, similar to an attraction that opened at Universal Orlando Resort in 2010, will include rides incorporating environments and characters from the "Harry Potter" book and film franchises. The themed land, part of the 108-acre theme park in Osaka, will feature attractions such as Hogsmeade Village, the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, and Hogwarts castle. Universal Studios Japan unveiled that castle -- the focal point of the Wizarding World -- at an event attended by Caroline Kennedy, U.S. ambassador to Japan, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. ON LOCATION: Where the cameras roll Universal Studios Hollywood will open a similar Wizarding World attraction in 2016.

Real Madrid plans to open a $1 billion soccer-centric theme park on a United Arab Emirates man-made island in January 2015 that celebrates the history, triumphs and hubris of the richest football club in the world. PHOTOS: Real Madrid Resort Island in the Middle East The 100-acre Real Madrid Resort Island will feature a roller coaster that extends out over the water, a SeaWorld-style dolphin show and a hologram soccer movie inside a climate-controlled theme park.

Legoland Florida recently received the first shipment of 32 Lego models for the kiddie theme park, which is scheduled to open in October at the former Cypress Gardens theme park in Winter Haven, about 40 miles from Disney World. Photos : Ride-by-ride preview of Legoland Florida Built in Europe, the handmade Lego models include a 40,000-brick blacksmith destined for the Castle Hill area of the park, a wizard designed for the indoor section of the Dragon roller coaster, an axe-wielding knight, a howling wolf and a snoring grandfather sitting on a park bench.

Robot Land, a $600-million theme park celebrating famous science fiction cyborgs and motion picture androids, is expected to open in South Korea in 2013. > Photos: Robot Land theme park rides and attractions Located about an hour west of Seoul in the coastal city of Incheon, Robot Land would feature 11 rides, seven attractions and eight shows on 190 acres. Dubbed the world's first robot theme park, the oft-delayed Robot Land would compete for visitors with the world's 10th busiest theme park ( Everland )

A $215-million Hello Kitty theme park celebrating the cute cartoon cat with a cult-like following will open in China in 2014. Photos : Hello Kitty theme park rides and attractions Construction is expected to begin in July on the 150-acre theme park in China's Zhejiang province, about three hours west of Shanghai, according to China's Xinhua news agency. Plans for the first Hello Kitty theme park outside Japan closely follow the recent announcement of Shanghai Disneyland , set to open in late 2015 or early 2016.

The latest piece in Universal Studios Hollywood's $1.6-billion expansion debuted Friday with dancing, music, speeches by dignitaries and swarms of minions. The theme park's newest attraction, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, was unveiled to the members of the news media and special guests; it opens to the public Saturday. The opening is set to take advantage of the crowds of school-age children and college students vacationing in Southern California during spring break. The ride is based on the characters of the two "Despicable Me" movies, which have grossed about $1.5 billion.

The families of children with disabilities have sued Walt Disney theme parks in Orlando, Fla., and Anaheim over a new policy for allowing guests with disabilities quick access to rides and attractions. The suit, filed last week in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that the new policy that was put in place in October will discourage guests with disabilities from visiting the park. Before October last year, visitors with disabilities and their family members were given a card that allowed them to go directly onto rides, skipping the long lines.

Universal Studios Hollywood is putting the pedal to the metal on a new attraction based on the popular "Fast and Furious" movie series. The theme park announced Tuesday plans to add a high-definition, 3-D feature to the park's long-running Studio Tour tram ride by the summer of 2015. The addition is part of a larger $1.6-billion, 25-year expansion that will include a highly anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction in the next two years and Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, set to open Saturday.

As summer approaches, 2014 already looks like a great year for ride enthusiasts around the world as a number of new theme parks are planned for Europe and Asia and several major attractions are in the works for North America. PHOTOS: 32 best new theme park additions of 2014 Consider this a tentative and fluid list of new attractions on tap across the globe. As is often the case, some projects may get delayed while new ones get announced. Let's take a look at the 32 most anticipated additions planned for 2014 at theme parks close to home, across the United States and around the world.

In the hyperbolic battle for the self-proclaimed title of "Roller Coaster Capital of the World," Six Flags Magic Mountain will jump out to a seemingly insurmountable lead this summer as rival Cedar Point continues to fade in the race for amusement park supremacy. The Valencia, Calif., and Sandusky, Ohio, parks have fought for decades over the grandiose title bestowed on the park with the most coasters. The current score: Magic Mountain 19 and Cedar Point 16 (or 17, depending on who's counting)

Construction is set to start this year on a $2-billion Universal Studios theme park in Beijing, according to published reports. A park in Beijing has been under discussion for years, but details have remained murky. A spokesperson for Universal Studios Theme Parks, a division of NBC Universal, declined to comment on the latest report. The park will be the sixth for Universal, including four already in operation and one that is set to open in South Korea in 2016. Construction will begin in Beijing this year, with completion scheduled for 2018, according to the website Aastocks.com.

Construction is set to start later this year on a $2-billion Universal Studios theme park in Beijing, according to published reports. A park in Beijing has been under discussion for years, but details have remained murky. A spokesperson for Universal Studios Theme Parks, a division of NBC Universal, could not be reached for comment. The park would be the sixth for Universal, including four already in operation and one that is set to open in South Korea in 2016. Construction will begin in Beijing later this year, with completion scheduled for 2018, according to the website aastocks.com.

It's no fun to visit a theme park and not get to go on the rides. And that's the big problem with Camp Snoopy at Knott's Berry Farm: Far too many rides that parents can't experience with their kids. But that will begin to change this summer when the Buena Park theme park gives the 30-year-old kiddie land a much-needed facelift and removes a number of rides with height maximums that prevent families from having fun together. PHOTOS: Camp Snoopy at Knott's Berry Farm Gone are the Log Peeler kiddie scrambler ride (48-inch maximum)